"As we progress into 2018, I would like to thank our members for their continued support, without which none of OCIMF’s achievements would have been possible."
Managing Director's Log
As we arrived back to work after the festive break I hoped that January would be a quiet month that allowed me to plan the year ahead....not so this year.
The busy and productive 2017 has rolled over into 2018. We have already started to form the working and steering groups for the revision of the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT) and the review of the Ship Inspection and Reporting Programme (SIRE) and we are finalising three major publications along with a number of information papers due for release in 2018.
The OCIMF Secretariat comprises a mix of permanent staff and seconded technical staff from our member companies. The seconded staff are usually on three-year secondments and this creates a refreshing turnover of talent in the Secretariat. The secondment model helps us to stay connected with our members and the latest operational standards, which then feeds into our publications and programmes. Late last year we welcomed a new Technical Adviser (Offshore), a Deputy Director and Chief Representative to the IMO and our new OCIMF Chairman. This year we will welcome a new SIRE/OVID Training and Accreditation Manager, a Technical Adviser (Engineering) and a new Director when Rob Drysdale takes over from me in June. These changes will keep driving the organisation forward.
As we progress into 2018, I would like to thank our members for their continued support, without which none of OCIMF’s achievements would have been possible.
Stay safe,
Andrew Cassels
Director OCIMF
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Regional Marine Forums 2018
Join us at your local Regional Marine Forum to learn more about OCIMF and to share best practices and initiatives within the industry.
For more information about the North America Regional Marine Forum see below.
Agendas for the remaining forums and details of our fifth Regional Marine Forum in the Middle East will be announced on our website and in the monthly newsletter.
Register your interest in the Regional Marine Forums
North America Regional Marine Forum
The annual OCIMF North America Regional Marine Forum will be held in Stamford, Connecticut on 15 March.
The forum takes place just after the annual Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) shipping event and is open to all. Join us to hear the exciting news about OCIMF programmes, publications and the latest information from the Secretariat.
We are putting the finishing touches to the agenda, but it currently includes:
- Presentations on the OCIMF SIRE, OVID and MTIS programmes. Guest speakers from Chevron and Stefanos Stylianos from Minerva Marine will present the MTIS and SIRE programmes.
- An update on the Mooring Equipment Guidelines, Fourth Edition (MEG4), including recent work with the IMO. Guest speaker Alan Blume from the Marshall Islands Flag Registry will discuss the Zarga incident and collaboration with industry. We also expect a presentation on the use of MEG4 in the planning, evaluation and design of berth structures from a marine civil engineer perspective.
- Lessons Learned from both OCIMF members and non-members. OCIMF and INTERTANKO will also present their joint safety initiative.
- An update on the latest publications and news within OCIMF.
- A Question and Answer session.
The day will end with a cocktail reception for attendees from 5–7pm.
Register soon to avoid disappointment. The OCIMF Secretariat look forward to seeing you at the event.
Register your interest in the North America Regional Marine Forum
Maritime Security Snippets
United Nations, Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia (CGPCS)
The Republic of Mauritius officially took over the chairmanship of the CGPCS on 1 January 2018. The OCIMF Secretariat maintains a close link with the CGPCS and members will be kept updated of their activities through the newsletter and the Maritime Security Sub-Committee.
Oceans Beyond Piracy paper on privately contracted armed maritime security
Following a recent OCIMF-supported conference at Chatham House, Oceans Beyond Piracy (OBP) have released a new issue paper examining privately contracted armed maritime security. This is part of a series of papers on Defining Contracted Maritime Security. The paper examines the use of armed guards as a security solution at sea and touches on the use of floating armories.
Read the paper online here.
International Maritime Bureau Annual Report
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) report shows the lowest number of incidents reported since 1995, but incidents of violence against seafarers remains high.
Members are encouraged to report any incidents of piracy and armed robbery to the IMB’s 24-hour Piracy Reporting Centre immediately by calling + 60 3 2078 5763 or emailing
You can apply to receive a copy of the 2017 IMB Annual Report here.
Cyber security award
The 2017 SMART4SEA Cyber Security Award was presented to Steamship Mutual for its Cyber Security: Smart, Safe Shipping DVD that promotes an awareness of cyber risks at sea.
OCIMF played a supporting role in the development of the DVD (see our February newsletter) and is delighted with its success.
You can view the DVD online at Steamship Mutual.
Navigation and Routeing Sub-committee
The Navigation and Routeing Sub-committee (NARSUC) held their 53rd meeting in OCIMF offices in London, UK on 10–11 January.
A variety of subjects were discussed, including the information papers Guidelines for Transiting the Turkish Straits and Navigational Audits and Assessments and preparation for the next work piece focusing on ECDIS-related navigational incidents.
The Navigation and Routeing Sub-Committee. From left to right: Vedran Engelbreht (Shell), Sergio Suzzi (ENI), Siddarth Misra (BP), Alistair Roaf (Chevron), Anuj Gupta (Exxon IMT), Tony Wynne (OCIMF), Pierre Gobetti (Total) and Juan Presedo (YPF).
The Ice Sub-committee met at the OCIMF offices on 25 January. From left to right: Esa Paivinen (Neste), Anton Chekmazov (Lukoil), Ian Reed (Shell), Tony Wynne (OCIMF), David Vaughan (ExxonMobil), Maxim Tokarev (Primorsk), Gordon Young (Gazprom), Rob Bridges (Total).
News from the IMO
The Ship Design and Construction (SDC) sub-committee held its fifth session (SDC 5) on 22–23 January 2018.
The OCIMF delegation was led by our new Deputy Director Sam Megwa, with support from the OCIMF Secretariat and Rob Collier from Shell.
Guidelines for safe mooring for all ships
The IMO correspondence group working on amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 and supporting guidelines for safe mooring operations submitted their reports to SDC 5 in October 2017. In response, OCIMF submitted a comment paper to SDC 5 that recommended the revised SOLAS regulation includes mooring lines and the term Human Centred Design. The paper was co-sponsored by Antigua and Barbuda, Liberia, Panama, Marshal Islands, ICS, BIMCO, ICHCA, INTERTANKO, SIGTTO and Nautical Institute.
The OCIMF position is that mooring lines are an integral part of the mooring system and that mooring system design should be centred around the safety of the personnel involved in mooring operations. OCIMF would like both of these to be reflected in SOLAS.
OCIMF also participated in the working group developing the draft revised SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 and supporting guidelines and recommended that the new guidelines take into account new guidance from the upcoming fourth edition of the Mooring Equipment Guidelines.
The sub-committee agreed in principle to include a reference to mooring lines in the draft revised SOLAS regulation. It established a correspondence group to consider issues such as assessment and verification during surveys, use of the term human centred design and its definition, and further development of the guidelines on safe mooring operations.
OCIMF will continue to participate in both the working group and correspondence group.
Carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel
OCIMF attended some of the sessions of the working group that was set up to further develop the draft new SOLAS chapter 15 and draft new Industrial Personnel (IP) code. The following are some of the key points from the draft regulations proposed by the working group:
- The draft new SOLAS chapter 15 shall apply to both new and existing cargo ships on international voyages.
- Industrial Personnel include offshore workers who are transported or accommodated on board a ship to another vessel or offshore facility.
- Industrial personnel shall not be treated or considered as passengers.
- All industrial personnel shall be at least 16 years of age, be medically fit and have received appropriate safety training and ship familiarisation.
- Information verifying that the industrial personnel complies with this regulation shall be made available to the master of the ship.
The sub-committee requested further development of the draft new SOLAS chapter 15 and the draft new IP code by a correspondence group.
OCIMF will continue to monitor and participate in this work item.
OVID inspectors - minimum inspection requirement
OVID inspectors will be required to conduct at least four inspections in 2018 to maintain their accreditation, as required in 2017.
OCIMF has reviewed the number of inspections taking place year on year and concluded that a minimum of four inspections is still appropriate.
If you have any questions, please email
OVID New Inspector courses 2018
There are three New Inspector Courses scheduled for 2018.
| 31 July – 2 August | South America (Venue TBC) | Register by 29 June |
| 6–8 November | Abu Dhabi (Venue TBC) | Register by 8 October |
| 27–29 November | West Africa (Venue TBC) | Register by 29 October |
New Inspector courses will be subject to demand and OCIMF reserves the right to either change the date or cancel the course if there is insufficient interest.
OVID Refresher courses 2018
There are six Refresher courses scheduled for 2018.
| 6–7 February | Aberdeen, UK (Rox Hotel) | COURSE FULL |
| 1–2 March | Singapore (Hilton Singapore) | COURSE FULL |
| 14–15 June | New Orleans (Venue TBC) | |
| 16–17 July | Singapore (Venue TBC) | |
| 19–20 July | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Venue TBC) | |
| 30–31 October | Norway (Statoil offices, Bergen) |
Frequently Asked Questions about New Inspector and Refresher courses can be found on our website. To enrol contact us.